Two more apply for Pinellas superintendent; one serious, one not

The first internal candidate to be Pinellas County’s next superintendent comes from Clearwater High School. He’s John B. Russell, a plant operator with the district since 1995, who submitted a two-sentence letter asking to be interviewed for the job.

“Don’t take it seriously,” Russell told The Gradebook. But he did say to call him back if he’s lucky enough to be interviewed. By the way, pay for plant operators ranges from $9.39 an hour to $29.27 an hour. The new superintendent’s pay works out to an hourly rate of up to $115 an hour.

Meanwhile, another intriguing candidate has applied for the job, and he’s serious. He is Melindo A. Persi, left, a long-time New Jersey superintendent who was fired April 29 by the Brick Township Board of Education, according to news reports. Persi had been serving as Brick Township’s interim superintendent since last July. He’s suing the district (enrollment 11,000) in New Jersey Superior Court, seeking to be paid at the contracted rate of $700 per day through Nov. 20, 2008. That’s when his contract was set to expire.

See press reports on Persi’s tenure here, here and here. Below, see brief summaries of Persi and the 12 others who have applied so far.

James P. HooverMonaca, PennsylvaniaCurrent job: Chief executive officer of a distance learning charter school in Pittsburgh.Previous job: School principal and technology coordinator, 1997-2006.Education: Doctorate, education, University of Pittsburgh.Application received: June 17

John J. SelchNew York, New YorkCurrent job: Educational associate with the New York State Education Department. Previous job: President of the Science Council of New York, 2003 to 2007, and taught science in New York public schools for eight years.Education: Post master’s work, school administration and supervision, Hunter College, City University of New York.Application received: June 17.

John R. PhillipsIsle of Palms, South CarolinaCurrent job: Claflin University (Orangeburg, S.C.) - Interim dean in the School of Education and Director of University/School District Partnerships and Chair of the Graduate Education Program & Clinical Practice.Previous job: Atlanta Public Schools – Executive director, Comprehensive Systemic School Reform, responsible for reform initiatives at 21 schools.Education: Doctorate, education, St. Louis University.Application received: June 3.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.